Boston Globe health and science news and the pay wall

Pssss. Go through Boston.com. Many of the health and science stories find their way there. Like this one on a new effort by Boston hosptials to test cancer tumors for genetic mutations and create a database of the findings.

Testing for genetic mutations is already common for some cancers, where knowing if a tumor carries a particular genetic defect is crucial for selecting the best treatment. The new program aims to build a larger base of knowledge by testing for a larger panel of genes and expanding the tests by offering them to all patients – even those whose cancers aren’t yet known to benefit.

Pay walls – when newspapers charge for online access to news – make life a little harder for us bloggers. But, as a newspaper household, we get it. Now that the free Bostonglobe.com trial is over, you’ll still have access to some of the Globe’s content via Boston.com. But, some stories will require a subscription. No option to buy a single story.

So, we’ll have to get out and do a little more reporting ourselves -which we do from time to time. Here are a few samples:

• Nutrition research: Booze, breast cancer, potatoes and Coke

• Chopra and UCal physicist debate science v. spirituality. (Well, arrive late and linked to the Crimson. But, we were there.)

• What’s new at Harvard? Med school dean Flier offers his pick during annual report.

• Tech titans become stars at MIT’s Walk of Fame

• Remembering the Colonel: William Lipscomb as chemist, musician and friend